Editor\'s note: Emma\'s interview follows Kate\'s interview.
scrunners: When did you start to compete in cross country and track and field?
kate: I started the fall of eighth grade.
scrunners: Do any of your parents compete or competed in the sports?
kate: My mom played tennis at Byrnes and dad played football, basketball and track at Mercer in Mercer, Pa.
scrunners: How did your race unfold this past weekend at Coaches Classic?
kate: I started out setting a comfortable pace for myself to try and wear out my competitors. The two-mile mark was where I knew I had to kick it in.
scrunners: What are you looking to accomplish this coming weekend at Great American?
kate: I\'m hoping to go sub 18.
scrunners: Is the entire Mann team traveling?
kate: No, I\'m going alone.
scrunners: How is it to have a sister as a training partner?
kate: It\'s good to know you will always have someone to run with..she is really doing well this year.
scrunners: Do you remember your first race? Explain.
kate: I sure do. My first competitive race was the Eye Opener and my time was like a 24:30..I thought that was so good and I was so excited. It\'s great to know I went from 24 to 18.
scrunners: What kind of training did you undergo this summer?
kate: I did a great deal of training this summer. My coaches Meredith Bridwell, Joseph Dion, and Billy Grimes really helped me to really increase my mileage and train hard, but smart.
scrunners: Did you go to a running camp this summer?
kate: I went to Coach Benson\'s Smoky Mountain Running Camp for two weeks. kate:
scrunners: What did you think of the camp?
kate: I loved it. I went last year and had a ball. I really felt like I got something out of it because of the combination of classes and training ...it was a great experience and I\'m really looking forward to next year!
scrunners: What kind of individuals goals are you setting and team goals for this season and track?
kate: In cross country our team goal is to not only win state, but to become closer as a team and as friends. My individual goal is to break 18 and to become a better and stronger person/runner. In track, same as above, but individually I would like to break five and 11.
scrunners: What would you consider the most prestigious meet you have competed in?
kate: Probably Foot Locker South in Charlotte or Coaches Classic this past weekend.
scrunners: Have you ever meet a professional runner? If so, who and what did you talk to them about?
kate: Yes, at camp I met the former world record Olympian in the 400 meters Antonio McKay. He talked to us about being commited and running with your heart. He taught us to be strong and a good sport. He taught me how to prepare mentally and physically for the race. He was extremely inspirational.
scrunners: How do you balance academics and athletics? kate: Of course school comes first, as much as a I want to run I need to focus on school work. So, I go to school, go to practice, then do my homework!
scrunners: What would you consider your most challenging race? Explain.
kate: The Foot Locker South meet because there are so many girls running, it\'s hard to get out front and you get stuck easily, but I live for it!
scrunners: What do you look for in a coach and what do you expect a coach to look for in you?
kate: In a coach, I look for dedication and strive, a coach who will not only coach us as a team, but us as individual runners, who pushes us and encourages us to do the best we can. I want my coach to see in me, passion and determination. I want her to know how hard I\'m willing to work to get better. How much I love doing what I\'m doing. How much she helps me!
scrunners: Have you thought about coaching in the future? If so, why and what level?
kate: Yes, I would love to coach a high school team..to teach them everything I know and have learned about running.
scrunners: Where do you see the running going in South Carolina and how would you like to be invovled?
kate: It seems like South Carolina is hitting runners high! its getting more and more popular. People are just starting to get into it, and people who have been running are just getting better and better. I want to stay a part of it for as long as I can!
scrunners: Are you looking to run in college? Explain?
kate: Yes! I would love to run in college. I really want to further my running career.
scrunners: Have you ever been injured? Explain.
kate: Not really, I have very minor knee problems but other than that I\'ve been alright so far!
scrunners: What kind of cross training did you incorporate during this time?
kate: I do yoga and every Sunday I run in the pool for 30 mintues with my mom and sister doing intervals and jogging. I also do a little bit of strength training, but I never stopped running.
scrunners: What kept you motivated during this time?
kate: The determination to get better.
scrunners: What keeps you motivated on a daily basis for school, athletics and life?
On a daily basis, my family and teammates keep me motivated by believing in me and helping me through it all, also my faith and heart that goes into this sport.
scrunners: What kind of race works best for you? Explain.
kate: A race with many good strong competitors, preferably a 5k.. a race where it comes down to the wire.
scrunners: Who is your biggest individual and Mann\'s team rival? Explain.
kate: Right now my biggest competitor, other than myself, is Sinead Haughey from Daniel. And our team rival is the Daniel team itself.
scrunners: Do you or Mann have a pre-race tradition?
kate: Well, our girls have started our own traditon, before every race we pray, scream GO PATRIOTS at the top of our lungs, but first... we do our motivation dance! We get in a circle and every girl does a dance move and we do each one and then put them all together and make our motivation dance!
scrunners: Explain the Patriot fish to the scrunners.com viewers?
kate: Well, I wasn\'t here when the fish was started, but all I know is that Ian Harding got it for Christmas one year and somehow it stuck on the team. We got two more and making it three. Every year the seniors pass it down to another runner. Recently one of the girls got the girls team a rainbow fish. So that\'s one more to the bunch!
scrunners: When were you first introduced to the fish?
kate: I was introduced to the salmon when the boys made me kiss it as initiation in eighth grade.
scrunners: Does it have a name?
kate: One of them is Sammy and that\'s all I know.
scrunners: If there is one thing in the world you could do what would it be and why?
kate: Travel the world with one of my stops being the Olympics and winning a gold medal!
Emma Borowicz
scrunners: When did you start to compete in cross country and track and field?
emma: I started competing in cross country in the end of the season my eighth grade year, and i started track last year.
scrunners: How did your race unfold this past weekend at Coaches Classic?
emma: Well, after losing my shoe at the mile marker I began to panic a little. I didn\'t know what I was going to do: if I should get it or keep going. It actually didn\'t feel bad running with out it, and I ended up getting a PR and dropping a minute from Eye Opener. I came in 11th overall.
scrunners: What are you looking to accomplish at your next race?
emma: I am looking at trying to break 19:30 or so.
scrunners: Is the entire Mann team traveling to watch your sister run Great American?
emma: No, the whole team is not going because it wasn\'t really a team announced event. Kate saw it and knew she wanted to do it. We all support her even though we can\'t be there. I have a math test, so I can\'t leave school, but I wish her luck.
scrunners: How is it to have a sister as a training partner?
emma: Having Kate around as a training partner is absolutely wonderful. I look up to her a lot and seeing her at practice doing better than anyone else, makes me want to be more like her everyday. I mean if one day I could be as good as her, I would be honored.
scrunners: Do you remember your first race? Explain.
emma: Oh man. My first race was pityful. It was at Travelers Rest, and I had only been to about two real practices before the race. My first mile was around eight minutes, and I was so proud. After about the two mile, I got so tired and kept having to walk. It\'s embarrassing now, but back then I was dying! I ran a 25 minute 5k that day. What a great time! Haha.
scrunners: What kind of training did you undergo this summer?
emma: This summer our team practiced every morning at 7 a.m. We ran anywhere from five to seven miles a day at different speeds. On Saturdays, we ran anywhere from eight to 12 miles easy. It was very effective.
scrunners: Did you go to a running camp this summer?
emma: I did go to running camp this summer.
scrunners: What did you think of the camp?
emma: I thought camp was great (being my second year at FIRST running camp)! I met loads of people that are in love with the sport of cross country as I am and I learned a lot of new things taught my camp directors Scott (Murr) and Mickey (McCauley).
scrunners: What kind of individuals goals are you setting and team goals for this season and track?
emma: My coach has given me a goal of an 18:45 to run before Furman, so I will be working on that now. I am hoping that our team can take home a state title! As for track, I really hope our 4x8 team will do well, and I hope to get a 5:10 in the mile and a 11:30 in the two mile.
scrunners: What would you consider the most prestigious meet you have competed in?
emma: Probably Coaches classic, Foot Locker South or the state meet last year.
scrunners: Have you ever meet a professional runner? If so, who and what did you talk to them about?
emma: Well, if you count Ruth Marie Milliman then, yes. We talk everytime I see her. Her daughter used to be on my soccer team, so we know each other.
scrunners: How do you balance academics and athletics?
emma: I do all of my homework and studying after practice, and since some of my teammates are in my classes at school, we do homework and study together on the bus on the way to meets. It\'s actually not that challenging to me.
scrunners: What would you consider your most challenging race? Explain.
emma: My most challenging race would have to be the state track meet this past spring. I wasn\'t expecting to go to state in the mile at all. It was pretty much a Mann-Daniel showdown (as in cross country). Kate and I had our work cut out for us running against great runners like Stephanie Gammon, Sinead Haughey and Erica Segars. I remember the final stretch of the race, battling with Sinead. That would be my most challenging race. For cross country it would be Coaches Classic because of the loss of my shoe.
scrunners: What do you look for in a coach and what do you expect a coach to look for in you?
emma: In a coach, I look for dedication, love for the sport, and concern for each individual. I expect a coach to look for the best in me and to help me give all that I can at each and every race.
scrunners: Have you thought about coaching in the future? If so, why and what level?
emma: No, I haven\'t thought of coaching.
scrunners: Where do you see the running going in South Carolina and how would you like to be involved?
emma: South Carolina is a great running state, and I see scholarships going to a lot of runners because of all the talent. I would like to be one of those runners who is a somebody.
scrunners: Are you looking to run in college? Explain.
emma: I have thought of running in college, but first I would like to see how the rest of my high school seasons go.
scrunners: Have you ever been injured? Explain.
emma: I have had minor injuries such as shin splints, calf problems, knee problems, but nothing too serious.
scrunners: What kind of cross training did you incorporate during this time?
emma: I actually have started pool running with my mom and sister, Kate.
scrunners: What kept you motivated during this time?
emma: Kate. And myself trying to be a better runner.
scrunners: What keeps you motivated on a daily basis for school, athletics and life?
emma: Myself, my team, my friends, my family, and my coaches.
scrunners: What kind of race works best for you? Explain.
emma: A challenging race, a talent filled race, a big race, and a race that gets me nervous. Haha.
scrunners: Who is your biggest individual and Mann\'s team rival? Explain.
emma: My biggest individual rival is, at this time, Stephanie Gammon. Not because I don\'t like her because that is not it at all. I just want to stay with her during races. Mann\'s biggest team rival is definitely Daniel.
scrunners: Do you or Mann have a pre-race tradition?
emma: OLIVE GARDEN! Haha. And prayer, and definantly the motivation dance is the best.
scrunners: Explain the Patriot fish to the scrunners.com viewers?
emma: Sammy has got to be the best mascot on the planet. Can you be more original? Sammy was given to one of our runners as a present for Christmas, and he has been around since then. No one understands why we have him. No one. Haha.
scrunners: When were you first introduced to the fish?
emma: My eighth grade year.
scrunners: Does it have a name?
emma: Sammy.
scrunners: If there is one thing in the world you could do what would it be and why?
emma: There are so many things in the world that I would want to do, but I would love to travel the world and raise a wonderful family. As for running, I would like to be as good as my sister one day!